FJowners.com

General Category => Maintenance => Topic started by: racerrad8 on January 17, 2012, 07:54:44 PM

Poll
Question: Which is the best, most complete & useful "aftermarket" service manual?
Option 1: Clymer votes: 3
Option 2: Haynes votes: 23
Title: Which is the best...?
Post by: racerrad8 on January 17, 2012, 07:54:44 PM
I am trying to determine which "aftermarket" brand of service manual to add to my inventory.

The newest vendor I just added at the end of 2011 has both Haynes & Clymer.

I really do not want to stock both as there is no need, but I do want to have the one that people use & find the most useful.

Please take a moment to vote for your recommendation.

Thank you, Randy - RPM
Title: Re: Which is the best...?
Post by: Arnie on January 17, 2012, 09:06:25 PM
Randy,

I have the Clymer and the Genuine Yamaha manual.
The Clymer is good, though it does have some 'difficulties'.
I don't have the Haynes.
So, I'll vote for Clymer, but have no knowledge of the Haynes for the FJ.

Please discount my vote appropriately. 
I'd guess most on this list also have one or the other, but not both.

Cheers,
Arnie
Title: Re: Which is the best...?
Post by: racerman_27410 on January 17, 2012, 09:13:54 PM
i have had a haynes manual for just about every vehicle i've ever owned....  good step by steps with lots of pictures  :good2:


i also think the clymer is good but not as many pictures and someone without a lot of mechanical experience may have a tough time with the way clymer "words" things


KOokaloo!
Title: Re: Which is the best...?
Post by: SlowOldGuy on January 17, 2012, 09:23:26 PM
I have all three; GYSM, Haynes & Clymer.  I reach for the Haynes first.  The Clymer has good electrical diagrams, but so do the others.

DavidR.
Title: Re: Which is the best...?
Post by: bugboy on January 17, 2012, 09:27:31 PM
I have Haynes and Clymer, but use the Haynes most.  I'll refer to the Clymer if I'm fuzzy on something, hoping that the second source will help.  I vote Haynes.

Kurt
Title: Re: Which is the best...?
Post by: markmartin on January 17, 2012, 09:42:57 PM
I've got the Haynes and the Clymer.  They are both good but I'd vote for the Haynes because the pictures are of better quality.

Mark
Title: Re: Which is the best...?
Post by: fj11.5 on January 18, 2012, 03:18:06 AM
haynes gets my vote, although i have the clymer and two different 84 1100 manuals  (popcorn)
Title: Re: Which is the best...?
Post by: Derek Young on January 18, 2012, 08:39:53 AM
I have the clymer  manual for my FJ.  I've had a Haynes manual for every other vehicle I've owned.  The clymer is good, but I find the Haynes is more user friendly and easier to understand.  The pictures and diagrams are better and the instructions are easier to follow. If I didn't have one already, I'd definitely look for a Haynes first.

Derek
Title: Re: Which is the best...?
Post by: spsmith_fj1200 on January 18, 2012, 10:16:39 AM
I have both and use the Clymer more.  I use the two to double check what I am doing when I get confused.
Title: Re: Which is the best...?
Post by: fj1289 on January 18, 2012, 11:49:40 AM
Randy, I'll vote Haynes too on this one. 

What would be really cool would be for people to let you know what errors they've found (I think there are a couple critical ones in both the Haynes and Clymer) and include a one-page correction of notice with the manual. 

Chris
Title: Re: Which is the best...?
Post by: motohorseman on January 18, 2012, 12:05:56 PM
Oh man, sorry I can not help, I always use the factory manuals for everything.

The fricking Porsche 944 I bought a decade plus ago required a lot of them -

(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t317/UJMsRule/Porsche%20944/DSCN7346.jpg)

Complete sets of the 924 and 944 manuals are required for that car.....

I've got the FJ series manuals digital and I print the pages I need at the time, so far so good.
Title: Re: Which is the best...?
Post by: eddohawk on January 18, 2012, 01:23:28 PM
I have a Clymers and havent checked out the Haynes though. From a novices perspective I have found the Clymers to be ''ok'' and the odd error frustrating but on the other hand has made my learning experience that much more rewarding as its made me research deeper. I reckon I've learnt more from my mistakes!

Title: Re: Which is the best...?
Post by: andyb on January 18, 2012, 04:31:48 PM
The Haynes is nicer to use than the Clymer... but if I've got a question, the GYSM is the only way to go, and a lot easier to use than either. 
Title: Re: Which is the best...?
Post by: JCainFJ on January 18, 2012, 09:53:40 PM
 I have all 3, and the GYSM is the best for an advanced tech. Haynes is the best aftermarket, it has fewer mestakes and is easier to understand. The Clymer has lots of problems. Torque specs and oil circut diagrams are problems with all of the manuals.
Title: Re: Which is the best...?
Post by: hein on January 19, 2012, 12:00:20 PM
I've got all three manuals and in order of preference I'd vote
1 GYSM
2 Haynes
3 Clymer
Hein.
Title: Re: Which is the best...?
Post by: Mark Olson on January 19, 2012, 01:06:30 PM
Haynes for the pics .  The fork section is messed up though.